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About the NCC

Richard Oldfield, CEO

"We are industry's research and development partner. When companies need to make things lighter, stronger, smarter and more sustainable they come to the NCC. With access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, we help our customers solve the most complex engineering challenges of our time."

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Our Story

The National Composites Centre was created as the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Composites Research and Development following the inclusion of this disruptive technology into government industrial strategy. Our task: to be recognised as a world leader in composite technology, accelerating the development and uptake of digital technologies for sustainable composites and growing the market for composites by driving innovation through collaboration and partnerships.

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Our networks

High Value Manufacturing Catapult

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High Value Manufacturing Catapult

The NCC is proud to be one of seven centres that makes up the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which is itself one of nine Catapults created as a key tool in Innovate UK’s range of innovation support for businesses. Each Catapult is focused on an area in which the UK has the potential to grow in strategically important global markets. 

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Composites Leadership Forum

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Composites Leadership Forum

The National Composites Centre is a pivotal member of the UK’s Composite Leadership Forum which works to influence the Government and other bodies to bring together support for composites and ensure growth and industrial success for the UK. It is chaired and led by industry. 

Find out more about the CLF

Composites UK Trade Association

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Composites UK Trade Association

The NCC also is a board member of Composites UK Trade Association, fully supporting its mission to encourage continuous growth and development of the industry, promoting the best practice use of composites materials. We work closely to bring companies throughout the composites supply chain together, creating a unified voice to drive the industry forward to the benefit all of those involved.

Visit the Composites UK website

Our Members

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Our latest news

  • International Composites Summit 2022

    21 Sep 2022
    The International Composites Summit is the UK's only exhibition focused solely on the global composites market. Taking place at the ILEC Conference Centre in London on 21-22 September, the event brings together leading industry professionals to address the worldwide opportunities for sales and growth within the composites sector, needed to help our journey to net zero. 

    Come and see the National Composites Centre at Stand C2, which we're hosting, with our fellow High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and WMG. We will be presenting throughout the Summit.

  • National Composites Centre manufactures Ceramic Matrix Composites using Automated Fibre Placement in European first

    21 Sep 2022
    NCC engineers have completed a European first by manufacturing Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) using Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) technology, paving the way for the high-temperature capabilities of these materials to be unlocked within engines – making them more efficient and reducing CO₂ emissions.

  • Net Zero at the heart of NCC’s Core Research programme for 2022/23

    08 Sep 2022
    The pressing need to develop sustainable ways of using advanced materials is at the heart of the projects selected for the National Composite Centre’s Core Research programme for 2022/23.

  • NCC exhibition at Cenex-LCV, the UK’s largest low carbon vehicle event

    07 Sep 2022
    Visit the NCC on stand C1-04 to discover how composites is enabling the UK's net zero future through innovation. Our team will be on hand to talk through some exciting projects and research developments, including our new carbon fibre reclamation initiative. Our recycled pressure vessel made from continuous carbon reclaimed from a whole pressure vessel will also be on display.

  • NCC launches initiative to industrialise continuous carbon fibre reclamation and fast-track a ‘second-life’ materials market in the UK

    07 Sep 2022
    The NCC has launched a three-year innovation programme that will see a team of composites specialists refine and scale the industrial processes needed to establish a commercial market for reclaimed continuous carbon fibre. With global demand for virgin fibre set to exceed supply by 2025, this could ease pressure on supply chains and see the UK take a leading role in defining a new era for composites.

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